Meet the 2017 Class of Gulf Coast Leadership Institute!

Gulf Coast Community Foundation has selected a dynamic and diverse class of 26 community members to participate in our 2017 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute.

“This was our most competitive year yet, as we received more applications for the Leadership Institute than ever before,” said Mark Pritchett, Gulf Coast president and CEO. “We have much confidence in this group of aspiring and experienced leaders, and equally high expectations of them.  Our region will benefit greatly from their commitment to service.”

The class members will take part in a comprehensive leadership training program from May to July led by faculty of the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a public service and outreach unit of the University of Georgia. Gulf Coast provides all training and resources at no cost to participants in exchange for their commitment to use their new skills to benefit our region through community service.

The 26 community members selected for the 2017 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute are:

•    C.J. Bannister, Director of Veterans Services, Goodwill Manasota
•    Lucia Branton, Director of Programs, All Star Children’s Foundation
•    John W. Bryant, AIA, Architect, Sweet Sparkman Architects
•    Holly Bullard, Director, Financial Stability Initiatives, United Way Suncoast
•    Ron Cutsinger, Owner/Branch Manager, Waypoint Advisors
•    Erin Duggan, Vice President, Visit Sarasota County
•    L’Tanya C. Evans, Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs, The Out-of-Door Academy
•    Mitzie Fiedler, retired educator
•    Rev. Kelly Fitzgerald, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota
•    Lourdes Fuller, President and Director of Human Resources, Lightspeed Voice
•    Crystal Hansen, Assistant General Counsel, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office
•    Brian Hersh, Program Director, Any Given Child, Sarasota County Schools
•    Ed Hill, Executive Director, Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce
•    Jason E. Hughes, CFP®, Vice President – Wealth Management, Wealth Advisor, UBS Financial Services
•    Kathy James, Project Manager, Englewood Community Care Clinic
•    Shena Kitt, Lead Domestic Violence Advocate, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center
•    Kim Livengood, Owner, The Eclipse Agency
•    Shawna Machado, Adoption Specialist/Case Manager, Pathways Human Services
•    Erin Minor, Executive Director, Harvest House
•    Misty Nichols, Executive Director, Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association
•    Christie Nolan, President, Mission Matters Consulting and Coaching Group
•    Keith Quick, Vice President, Sarasota YMCA
•    Mark S. Serio, Second Vice President, Morgan Stanley
•    Kevin St. John, Pricing Analyst, PGT Industries
•    Anna E. von Gehr, Senior Director for Development, The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art / FSU Foundation
•    Brad Williams, Principal Trombone, Sarasota Orchestra